Heating means for casing-in machine



Aug. 24, 1965 J. H. THORP 3,201,810

HEATING MEANS FOR CASING-IN MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1962 INVEN TOR. JAMESH. THORP ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,201,810 HEATING MEANS FORCASING-IN MACHINE James H. Thorp, Hartford, Conn, assignor to The SmythManufacturing Company, Bloomfield, Conm, a corporation of ConnecticutFiled Oct. 4, 1%2, Scr. No. 228,498 Claims. (Cl. 11-3) This inventionrelates generally to casing-in machines wherein book componentscomprising fillers and cases are assembled and secured together. Moreparticularly, the invention is directed to the problem of slow set up ordrying of the adhesive employed to secure fillers and cases in assembledrelationship.

In conventional casing-in machines, book cases and fillers areautomatically assembled with adhesive therebetween and the assembledbooks are then pressed at least for a short time to maintain the booksshape while the adhesive begins to set. The time available for thispressing operation in casing-in machines is usually quite limited andthe books are ordinarily passed to a pressing and forming machinewherein substantial time elapses in the complete or substantiallycomplete set up or drying of the adhesive. The time delay in set up ordrying has been a vexing problem in that the use of relatively bulky andcomplex pressing and forming machines has been necessary and yetdetrimental effects have been encountered in the over-all time requiredfor the manufacture of books.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a casing-inmachine including one or more heating means adapted to heat bookcomponents prior to discharge from the machine whereby to expedite setup of the aforesaid adhesive and thus to substantially lessen the taskof an associated pressing and forming machine and to reduce over-all setup time.

A further and more specific object of the invention resides in theprovision in a casing-in machine of heating means adapted to heat atleast one component of each book prior to assembly of the bookcomponents.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of acasing-in machine of the type mentioned wherein heating means isprovided for heating both components, case and filler, of each bookprior to assembly.

The drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and suchembodiment will be described, but it will be understood that variouschanges may be made from the construction disclosed, and that thedrawing and description are not to be construed as defining or limitingthe scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of thisspecification being relied upon for that purpose.

' Of the drawing:

The single figure of the drawing is a diagrammatic view of a casing-inmachine including heating means in accordance with the presentinvention.

The invention is equally adaptable for use in other types of casing-inmachines but its advantages are particularly well illustrated in acasing-in machine of the type disclosed in the Schramm and Clark PatentNo. 1,765,349 dated July 17, 1930 and entitled Casing-In Machine.Accordingly, the diagrammatic illustration of the drawing is based uponthe type of machine disclosed in Patent 1,765,349 and only elements ofthe casing-in machine operable directly on book components are showntherein. The disclosure of the patent is relied upon for description andillustration of operating means for the elements shown in the drawingand for description and illustration of other portions of the machinewhich may be deemed necessary for a full understanding of the invention.

Referring now particularly to the drawing, it will be observed that acase storing magazine is indicated generally at It The magazine 10 isadapted to hold a plural- 3,201,8lh Patented Aug. 24, 1965 ity of cases12, 12 in vertically stacked relationship with their inner sides facingdownwardly and said magazine includes four vertically extending cornermembers 14a, 11, c and d partially shown in the drawing. Means forsupporting the cases 12, 12 in the magazine 10 is provided at the bottomof the stack and said means may comprise a pair of spaced parallel andgenerally horizontally extending guide and support bars 16, 16.

The guide and support bars 16, 16 extend forwardly from the case storingmagazine It) to a case Forming and reasing Station A so that cases maybe successively advanced therealong from the bottom of the stack in themagazine 15). As will be seen the guide and support bars 16, 16 serve tosupport advanced cases at the Forming and Creasing Station A. From theForming and Creasing Station A, the guide and support bars 16, 16 mayextend forwardly to an assembly Station B for the successive advance ofcases therealong.

Means for successively advancing cases along the bars 16, 16 comprise afirst pair of pusher elements 18, 18, one shown, each comprising a head29 and a pin 22. Each pin 22 has associated therewith a biasing spring24 which urges the pin and its head upwardly with respect to a drivingrack 26. As shown, the head 20 is in engagement with a lowermost case12a and the pin and head are in their upper positions. The rack 26 isreciprocated generally forwardly and rearwardly by pinion means notshown whereby to cause the pusher elements 18, 18 to advance a case suchas 12a to the Forming and Creasing Station A and to return for thesubsequent advance of a succeeding case. On a return stroke of a pusherelement its head and pin 20, 22 may be depressed by engagement with thesucceeding or lowermost case in the magazine 10 whereby to passtherebeneath and to engage the trailing edge thereof.

For advancing cases such as a case 12b from the Forming and CreasingStation A to the Assembly Station B, a second pair of pusher elements23, 28 are provided. The elements 28, 28 are or may be substantiallyidentical with the aforesaid elements 13, 13 and said elements mayinclude heads 30, 39, pins 32, 32, and springs 34, 34 and haveassociated therewith racks 36, 36. Reciprocation of the racks 36, 36 bypinions not shown will obviously provide for forward and return orworking and idle strokes of the said pusher elements.

At the Forming and Creasing Station A, a case such as 12b is formed andcreased along its back portion by means of a vertically movable mandrel38 disposed therebeneath and vertically movable creaser bars 40, 40disposed there above. The case may be supported at least initially bythe aforesaid guide and support bars 16, 16.

On completion of the forming and creasing operation, a case such as 12bis advanced to the position of the case at the Assembly Station B bymeans of the pusher elements 28, 28. At the Assembly Station B, a casesuch as 120 may be supported in readiness for assembly with a filler bymeans of spaced generally U-shaped horizontally extending members 42,42. The members 42, 42 have lower portions 44, 44 respectivelysupporting opposite side edge portions of the case 120 and upperportions 46, 46 of said members may serve as an initial hold-down devicefor said side edge portions as will be seen.

Fillers, adapted for assembly with cases such as 12c, are supplied tothe Assembly Station B by saddle plates 48, 48 intermittently and intimed relationship with the aforesaid means for advancing the cases tosaid Station. The lowermost saddle plate 48 is shown with a filler 5t]mounted thereon and is indicated as being movable upwardly along asubstantially vertical path by arrow 52. Appropriate loading means, notshown, successively load fillers such as 50 on saddle plates 48, 48 at aloading Station disposed beneath the lowermost plate shown. The platesare then moved upwardly as by means of an upwardly moving run of asprocket chain indicated diagrammatically at 54 whereby to provide forthe application of adhesive to the fillers and for assembly of thepasted fillers with cases at the Assembly Station B. Paste rollsindicated generally at 56, 56 are adapted for inward and outwardmovement along generally horizontal lines whereby to engage the sides offillers such as 50 and to apply paste thereto.

A pasted filler such as 50, in upward movement of its associated saddleplate 48 engages a case such as 120 at the Assembly Station B. Asmentioned, the side edge portions of the case are held down at leastinitially by the portions 46, 46 of the aforesaid bars 42, 42. Thus, thecase begins to fold about the filler. Generally U- shaped folding bars58, 53 further tend to hold down the side portions of the case as thefiller progresses upwardly whereupon the case is completely folded aboutthe filler in asembled relationship therewith.

With case and filler in assembled relationship, further upward movementof a saddle plate 48 at the urging of the sprocket chain 54 causes anassembled book such as 60 on the uppermost saddle plate 48 to passbetween similar opposing presser rolls 62, 62. The presser rolls 62, 62may be spring biased inwardly as shown diagrammatically at 64, 64whereby to automatically engage and press opposite sides of the case ofan assembled book in passage therebetween.

After passage through the presser rolls 62, 62, books may be removedfrom saddle plates 48, 48 by means of suitable unloading means, notshown, and thereupon discharged from the casing-in machine.

Now from the foregoing it will be apparent that a casing-in machinegenerally described above and fully disclosed in the aforesaid patentincludes means for successively transporting fillers along a firstpredetermined and generally vertical path to an Assembly Station. Themachine also includes means for successively transporting cases along asecond predetermined and generally horizontal path to the AssemblyStation and, finally, a

means is provided for successively transporting assembled books awayfrom the Assembly Station. In accordance with the present invention, atleast one component of each assembled book is heated in a casing-inmachine whereby to expedite set up of the adhesive employed to securethe components of the book in assembled relationship. More specifically,heating means is provided adjacent at least one of the aforesaidpredetermined paths of component and book movement and, in theembodiment of the invention shown, a plurality of heating means isemployed whereby each component of each book is heated prior to assemblyand the assembled book is thereafter heated prior to discharge from themachine. The heating means employed may vary widely within the scope ofthe invention but quartz lamps are utilized in each of several locationsin accordance with the presently preferred practice.

Heating means indicated generally at 66 comprises a bank of quartz lamps68, 68 disposed generally horizontally beneath the aforementionedmagazine 10. As will be apparent, the inner side of the lowermost case(such as 1211) will be heated by the said lamps. The lamps are soarranged as to heat substantially the entire surface of the innerside ofeach case prior to advancement of the same to the Forming and CreasingStation A.

At the Forming and Creasing Station A, there is provided a heating meansindicated generally at 70 and comprising quartz lamps 72, 72. The lamps72, 72 are also arranged to heat substantially the entire inner surfaceof each case and yet not interfere with the aforementioned forming andcreasing means.

At the Assembly Station B, there is provided a heating means indicatedgenerally at 73 and comprising quartz lamps 74, 74. Lamps 74, 74 arearanged to heat substantially the entire inner surface of each case atthe said Station.

Adjacent the lowermost saddle plate 48 there is provided a heating meansindicated generally at 76, 76 and which comprises quartz lamps 78, 78aranged in opposing pairs to heat substantially the entire outer sidesurface of each filler 50.

Finally, heating means 80, 80 disposed above the aforementioned presserrolls 62, 62 include quartz lamps 82, 82 arranged in opposing pairs toheat substantially the entire outer side surface of each assembled book60.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a book casing-in machine, the combination of means providing astation for successively assembling book components comprising fillersand cases, means for successively transporting fillers along a firstpredetermined path to said assembly station, means for successivelytransporting cases along a second predetermined path to said assemblystation, means adjacent at least one of said first and second paths forapplying adhesive to at least one component of each book prior toassembly, and means adjacent at least one of said first and second pathsfor heating substantially one entire surface of at least one componentof each book prior to assembly whereby to expedite set up of saidadhesive.

2. In a book casing-in machine, the combination of means providing astation for successively assembling book components comprising fillersand cases, means for successively transporting fillers along a firstpredetermined path to said assembly station, means for successivelytransporting cases along a second predetermined path to said assemblystation, means adjacent at least one of said first and second paths forapplying adhesive to at least one component of each book prior toassembly, and means adjacent said second path for heating substantiallyone entire surface of each case prior to assembly whereby to expediteset up of said adhesive.

3. In a book casing-in machine, the combination of means providing astation for successively assembling book components comprising fillersand cases, means for successively transporting fillers along a firstpredetermined path to said assembly station, means for successivelytransporting cases along a second predetermined path to said assemblystation, means adjacent at least one of said first and second paths forapplying adhesive to at least one component of each book prior toassembly, and means adjacent said first path for heating substantiallyone entire surface of each filler prior to assembly whereby to expediteset up of said adhesive.

4. In a book casing-in machine, the combination of means providing astation for successively assembling book fillers and cases, means forsuccessively transporting fillers along a first predetermined path tosaid assembly station, means for successively transporting cases along asecond predetermined path to said assembly station, means adjacent saidfirst path for applying adhesive to each filler prior to assembly, andmeans adjacent each of said first and second paths for heatingsubstantially one entire surface of each filler and case prior toassembly whereby to expedite set up of said adhesive.

5. In a book casing-in machine, the combination of means providing astation for successively assembling book fillers and cases, means forsuccessively transporting fillers along a first predetermined path tosaid assembly station, means for successively transporting cases along asecond predetermined path to said assembly station, means adjacent saidfirst path for applying adhesive to each filler prior to assembly, meansadjacent each of said first and second paths for heating substantiallyone entire surface of each filler and case prior to assembly whereby toexpedite set up of said adhesive, means for successively transportingassembled books along a third predetermined path away from said assemblystation, and means adjacent said third path for heating each assembledbook whereby to further expedite set up of said adhesive.

6. In a book casing-in machine, the combination of means providing astation for successively assembling fillers and cases, means forsuccessively transporting fillers along a first predetermined andgenerally vertical path to said assembly station, a magazine for storinga plurality of cases in vertically stacked relationship with their innersides facing downwardly, means for successively transporting cases fromthe bottom of said magazine along a second predetermined and generallyhorizontal path to said assembly station, means adjacent said first pathfor applying adhesive to the outer leaves of each filler prior toassembly, and means adjacent the bottom of said magazine for heatingsubstantially the entire surface of the inner side of each case priortoassembly whereby to expedite set up of said adhesive.

7. In a book casing-in machine, the combination of means providing astation for successively assembling fillers and cases, means forsuccessively transporting fillers along a first predetermined andgenerally vertical path to said assembly station, a magazine for storinga plurality of cases in vertically stacked relationship with their innersides facing downwardly, means providing a form.- ing and creasingstation for successively forming and creasing cases prior to assembly,means for successively transporting cases from the bottom of themagazine along a second predetermined and generally horizontal path tosaid forming and creasing station and thence to said assembly station,means adjacent said first path for applying adhesive to the outer leavesof each filler prior to assembly, and first and second heating meansrespectively adjacent the bottom of said magazine and said forming andcreasing station for heating substantially the entire surface of theinner side of each case prior to assembly whereby to expedite set up ofsaid adhesive.

8. In a book casing-in machine, the combination of means providing astation for successively assembling fillers and cases, means forsuccessively transporting fillers along .a first predetermined andgenerally vertical path to said assembly station, a magazine for storinga plurality of cases in vertically stacked relationship with their innersides facing downwardly, means for successively transporting cases fromthe bottom of said magazine along a second predetermined and generallyhorizontal path to said assembly station, means adjacent said first pathfor applying adhesive to the outer leaves of each filler prior toassembly, first heating means adjacent the bottom of said magazine forheating, substantially the entire surface of the inner side of each caseprior to assembly whereby to expedite set up of said adhesive, andsecond heating means adjacent said first path for heating each fillerprior to assembly whereby to further expedite set up of said adhesive.

9. In a book casing-in machine, the combination of means providing astation for successively assembling fillers and cases, means forsuccessively transporting fillers along a first predetermined andgenerally vertical path to said assembly station, a magazine for storinga plurality of cases in vertically stacked relationship with their innersides facing downwardly, means providing a forming and creasing stationfor successively forming and creasing cases prior to assembly, means forsuccessively transport ing cases from the bottom of the magazine along asecond predetermined and generally horizontal path to said forming andcreasing station and thence to said assembly station, means adjacentsaid first path for applying adhesive to the outer leaves of each fillerprior to assembly, first and second heating means respectively adjacentthe bottom of said magazine and said forming and creasing station forheating substantially the entire surface of the inner side of each caseprior to assembly whereby to expedite set up of said adhesive, and thirdheating means adjacent said first path for heating each filler prior toassembly whereby to further expedite set up of said ad hesive. l

10. In a book casing-in machine, the combination of means providing astation for successively assembling fillers and cases, means forsuccessively transporting fillers along a first predetermined andgenerally vertical path to said assembly station, a magazine for storinga plurality of cases in vertically stacked relationship with their innersides facing downwardly, means providing a forming and creasing stationfor successively forming and creasing cases prior to assembly, means forsuccessively transporting cases from the bottom of the magazine along asecond predetermined and generally horizontal path to said forming andcreasing station and hence to said assembly station, means adjacent saidfirst path for applying adhesive to the outer leaves of each fillerprior to assembly, first and second heating means respectively adjacentthe bottom of said magazine and said forming and creasing station forheating substantially the entire surface of the inner side of each caseprior to assembly whereby to expedite set up of said adhesive, thirdheating means adjacent said first path for heating each filler prior toassembly whereby to further expedite set up of said adhesive, and fourthheating means adjacent said assembly station for heating each casewhereby to still further expedite set up of said adhesive.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,457,108 5/23Trost 11-3 1,765,349 6/ 30 Schramm et a1. 1l-3 2,151,957 3/39 Davis 11-12,538,520 1/51 Holt et a1. 15632O X 2,640,208 6/53 De Florez et a1 113 X2,755,491 7/56 Terzuoli et al. 1l1 2,878,496 3/59 Terzuoli et a1. 11-13,057,766 10/62 Dickey 156---322 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, PrimaryExaminer. LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examiner.

1. IN A BOOK CASING-IN MACHINE, THE COMBINATIN OF MEANS PROVIDING ASTATION FOR SUCCESSIVELY ASSEMBLING BOOK COMPONENTS COMPRISING FILLERSAND CASES, MEAN FOR SUCCESSIVELY TRANSPORTING FILLERS ALONG A FIRSTPREDETERMINED PATH TO SAID ASSEMBLY STATION, MEANS FOR SUCCESSIVELYTRNSPORTING CASES ALONG A SECOND PREDETERMINED PATH TO SAID ASSEMBLYSTATION, MEANS ADJACENT AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PATHS FORAPLYING ADHESIVE TO AT LEAST ONE COMPONENT OF EACH BOOK PRIOR TOASSEMBLY, AND MEANS ADJACENT AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PATHSFOR HEATING SUBSTANTIALLY ONE ENTIRE SURFACE OF AT LEAST ONE COMPONENTOF EACH BOOK PRIOR TO ASSEMBLY WHEREBY TO EXPEDITE SET UP OF SAIDADHESIVE.